A new dog and a phone full of reminders
The first month with a dog is a flood of small things to remember: the vet appointment, the flea treatment, the training word everyone in the house agreed to use, the number of the neighbour who offered to help. Very little of it needs technology. The parts that do, reminders, a training structure and finding help, are where a few apps earn their place.
The first month, week by week
| Week | What matters most | Where an app helps |
|---|---|---|
| First | Settling in, a quiet routine, toilet training | A timer for toilet breaks and a shared log |
| Second | Registering with a vet, the first check | Reminders for treatments and vaccinations |
| Third | Short training sessions, meeting people and places | A structured plan of five minute sessions |
| Fourth | Time alone, and a plan for when you are away | Finding a sitter or walker before you need one |
The apps
Dogo. Structured training programmes for puppies and adult dogs, with a clicker built into the app and video demonstrations. Most of it is a subscription.
Puppr. Tricks and basic commands with clear step by step instructions and a built in clicker, good for a family learning together.
Another training plan app, with daily tasks and a puppy programme. Compare it with the previous two before subscribing to any.
A puppy training plan organised by the puppy's age, so you only see what is relevant this week.
Short training videos and a structured puppy plan, with part of it free.
Sitters and walkers with reviews from other owners, booked through the app. Book a short visit first so the dog meets the sitter before a whole weekend.
Wag. Walkers on demand in the areas it covers, useful for a long working day with a young dog at home.
PetDesk. Reminders and appointment requests straight from your vet, if the practice uses it. Ask at the first visit.
A log of vaccinations, medication, weight and vet visits, handy when more than one person shares the care.
Live location for a dog that runs, using the maker's collar tracker and a subscription. It records walks as well.
A GPS collar with activity tracking, the alternative to the previous tracker in the markets where it sells.
Records walks with no tracker hardware, so the household can see whether the dog has been out yet.
Pet first aid from the Red Cross, step by step. Read it once calmly, long before you ever need it.
Guesses a breed from a photograph. Good fun with a mixed rescue dog, not to be taken as fact.
Adoption listings from shelters and rescues, for anyone still at the finding stage.
Turns an old phone into a dog monitor that alerts you when the dog barks, which shows how the first hours alone really go.
Food and supplies on repeat delivery in the markets it serves, so the bag never runs out on a Sunday night.
Habits that matter more than any app
- Agree the words before the dog arrives Sit, down, off, leave it. If two people use different words for the same thing, the dog learns neither.
- Train in sessions of five minutes Several short sessions a day work better than one long one, for the dog and for you.
- Put every recurring treatment in a shared calendar Flea, tick and worming treatments run on different intervals. A shared calendar means nobody doubles a dose or misses one.
- Leave the dog alone for short spells from the start Minutes at first, building up. It is far easier than fixing a dog that panics when the door closes.
- Save the emergency vet's number now Not your usual vet, the one that is open at night. You will not want to search for it when you need it.
- A GPS tracker, if the dog is a runner
- An in person training class
- A decent lead and harness before any gadget
- A sitter the dog already knows
- A camera that throws treats, for most dogs
- Several training subscriptions at once
- Breed identification beyond curiosity
- Dog whistle apps, since phone speakers mostly cannot play those frequencies
Microchip record, a vet, a shared calendar and five minute training sessions. Add a sitter and a tracker if the dog runs. Everything else is patience.
Frequently asked questions
Are GPS dog trackers worth it?
For a dog that bolts, yes. They need the tracker on the collar and usually a monthly subscription for its mobile connection, so budget for both.
Can an app replace a training class?
An app gives structure and ideas. A class gives you someone watching the dog and correcting your timing, which is what most problems come down to. Use both if you can.
Is a breed scanner accurate?
For a pedigree dog it is often right. For a mixed rescue it is a guess, entertaining and nothing more. A DNA test is the only real answer, and the dog does not mind either way.
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